Transcending Oil, released in April 2018, describes Hawaii’s path toward meeting its ambitious clean energy goals by 2045. The report was commissioned by Elemental Excelerator and prepared independently by Rhodium Group and Smart Growth America. It focuses mainly on transitioning the electrical grid to renewable energy while moving large numbers of vehicles to electric power but also points to the importance of managing overall travel demand through transportation policies and investments. This technical guide describes the methods and findings behind Transcending Oil’s travel demand forecasts, developed by SSTI and Smart Growth America.
energy
How do we prepare for the “hockey stick growth” of the EV market?
The latest forecasts by Bloomberg show the current sales of electric vehicles increasing from 1 million worldwide, to 11 million in 2025, and then surging to 30 million in 2030. Many other forecasts come very close, and a recent report by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory describes the future market of EVs as following a ‘hockey stick growth’ pattern. Are U.S. electric utilities, regulators, and the infrastructure ready for this change?
Washington State Energy Efficiency Education Campaign (Spitfire Strategies, 2012)
As part of Spitfire’s work with SSTI and the Washington State Department of Transportation to develop a collaborative transportation energy efficiency campaign, Spitfire conducted a series of research activities to inform campaign planning.
ACEEE finds U.S. ranks last in energy efficiency in transportation
A new report from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy finds that, among 12 major world economies analyzed for the report, the U.S. ranks dead last in the energy efficiency of its transportation sector. Improving transportation’s energy efficiency hinges on supporting multiple modes of transportation and can be accomplished by dramatically improving the accessibility of other transportation modes such as rail, carpooling, bus, biking, and walking. Without adoption of new policies and standards, the U.S. transportation system will continue drag on the economy, wasting energy and limiting opportunities for economic development. The ACEE graph below shows how the U.S. transportation sector energy consumption far outstrips that of the other countries evaluated as part of the study.
Oregon leads the way on use of solar installations for transportation facilities
Although begun in 2008, the largest component yet of the Oregon Solar Highway recently opened on I-5 in Clackamas County. The Baldock project, a public-private partnership between ODOT and Portland General Electric (PGE), is an array in a safety rest area near Wilsonville. Solar installations in transportation corridors are common in Europe, but are almost unknown in the U.S. However, Oregon plans more, and has also produced a manual, which can be downloaded.
Colorado DOT and Governor’s Energy Office launch efforts to reduce energy use in transportation
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) have developed and in some cases begun to implement a range of strategies promoting energy efficiency and reducing associated greenhouse emissions in the …
Can congestion create kilowatts? Good vibrations from California
California Assemblyman Mike Gatto recently introduced a bill that would require the California Energy Commission to explore the possibility of generating electricity from the rumble of traffic on highways in the state. Piezoelectric technology, which …
Policy options for reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. transportation: No silver bullet
Transportation accounts for 2/3 of the nation’s oil consumption and produces between ¼ and 1/3 of all the CO2 emitted from the nation’s energy consumption. TRB established a special committee of experts to explore policy …
Dimming the lights without diminishing safety
In a pilot project, the Maryland Highway Administration is investigating whether fewer highway lights can be used without compromising safety.
AASHTO Webinar on Prospects for Federal Legislation
Prognostications are available from a webinar on “What Can State DOTs Expect in Federal Legislation on Climate Change and Energy?” held by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials on January 13, 2011.